Stirred by William's flirtatious teasing, Diana lay in bed for an hour before sleep finally claimed her. Luckily, she didn't have to clock in for work today; otherwise, she definitely wouldn't have made it on time and would have faced a hefty fine for being late. By the time Diana finally rolled out of bed, it was already 10:00 AM.
She walked into the walk-in closet to get changed, but as she pulled open a drawer, she froze. Wait—where was her bra? She remembered clearly hanging it on the side hook after it had finished drying yesterday. Confused, Diana pulled out every storage bin in the wardrobe, searching through them one by one. It was bizarre; nearly a dozen pieces of lingerie in various patterns had vanished without a trace. The security at Forbidden City Manor was airtight, and the domestic staff were professionally trained—it wasn't a case of theft. There was only one logical conclusion: the staff must have thought the hanging items looked untidy and tucked them away.
Diana sighed. Given William's temperament—as cold and detached as a marble statue—he certainly wouldn't have touched her private garments. If they were put away, they were likely in the bottom drawers. She bent down and pulled open the lowest solid wood drawer. There they were: rows of colorful lingerie, folded into perfect, uniform squares, lying in formation like a troop of tiny soldiers. Diana sighed again; the staff in wealthy households were indeed meticulous, but their folding technique was far too aggressive. As a "busty girl," she knew the golden rule of lingerie care: underwired bras could easily lose their structural integrity if subjected to such violent folding. For her, that support was a "lifeline"—if they lost their shape, she was facing a serious sag crisis.
Patiently, Diana crouched down, unfolding each "little square" one by one and hanging them back in the closet where they could breathe. She selected a pale purple lace set and, leaning forward slightly, prepared to put it on. Just then, her phone on the vanity vibrated. It was a video call from her best friend, Penelope. With her hands busy, Diana hit the speakerphone button.
Penelope's gossip-hungry voice instantly filled the room. "Babe! Spill it. How was your 'deep dive' session with Mr. Knight last night? Did the performance hit a five-star rating?"
Diana, busy fastening the hooks behind her back, fired back calmly, "What performance? I went there to sleep, not to compete in an MMA match."
"No way!" Penelope shrieked through the phone. "You had the battle armor ready and you still didn't conquer the fortress? That's William Knight we're talking about!" Penelope went silent for two seconds, her brain working overtime. Her tone suddenly turned grave. "Babe, listen to me. Either his willpower is superhuman, or... you should secretly book him an appointment at a men's clinic. If there's a functional issue, we need to treat it early. If he's truly broken, I'll support you in jumping ship. You can't spend your youth living like a widow just because the 'engine' won't start."
Diana was just pulling a pair of tight blue jeans over her long, straight legs. Hearing this, her hands shook with irritation. "Penelope, I don't think his heart has a functional issue—I think your brain has a massive hole in it."
"Hey, I'm just looking out for your long-term happiness!"
"Trust me, I'm doing fine. Mentally stable, well-rested." Diana zipped her jeans and smoothed her hair in the mirror.
Penelope huffed. "Sure, you're fine. You've been married five days and turned a honeymoon into a roommate situation."
Diana slipped into a pale yellow silk blouse. "Your mind is a swamp. I suggest you go to the supermarket and buy a bottle of industrial-strength bleach for your brain."
"Tsk, tsk. Look at you, getting all defensive?" Penelope's sharp intuition picked up on the shift. "Diana, didn't you say this was a 'mutual respect, don't-touch-me' contract marriage? Why do you sound like you're starting to fall for him?"
Diana's fingers paused on a button. After a moment of silence, she lowered her lashes. "Legally, he is my husband. Defending a partner's reputation is a basic family duty. It's a matter of professional ethics."
"Fine, fine, have it your way," Penelope pressed. "But if someone publicly humiliated you, do you think he'd actually step up to protect you?"
The image of William's cold, imposing face flashed through Diana's mind. She replied softly, "I think he would."
"Alright, it's your life. I'll stop being a busybody," Penelope said, her tone softening. "But seriously, sisters forever. If you're ever feeling mistreated or just need someone to run errands, just say the word. I'll be there in a heartbeat."
A wave of warmth washed over Diana. "Thanks, Penelope."
"Oh, don't get all sentimental on me! I haven't even started yet."
"Helping someone isn't just about material things; emotional value is harder to find," Diana smiled. "There aren't many people in this world who would tell me they'll 'definitely be there.' I appreciate it."
Penelope let out an exaggerated sob. "Waaa! You understand me so well, babe! I'm so moved I'm practically ovulating on the spot."
"Okay, stop the drama," Diana laughed.
Penelope chuckled. "But for real, you're too stubborn, always carrying everything yourself. It gives me zero sense of achievement. Come on, give a girl a chance to pamper you."
Diana adjusted her collar. "Alright. I'm craving that new Oreo Lava Cheese Milk Tea. How about you go grab me one?"
"Done! I'll buy two! One for you to drink, and one for me to drink while you watch!"
Having finished getting ready, Diana chatted as she headed downstairs. Penelope suggested, "Let's make up for yesterday. Bring Noah along and let's go gorge ourselves at KFC."
"Not today," Diana said. "I'm taking Noah to the nursing home in the suburbs to visit Grandma."
"Our Grandma? I'm in! I haven't seen the old lady in ages. I'll come along to keep her entertained."
"Great, I'll drive over and pick you up in a bit."
Since the supercar William had gifted her only sat two, Diana remembered there were plenty of idle executive cars in the garage. Recalling William's "no interference" rule, she didn't call him directly but dialed his assistant instead.
"Miss Bell, how can I help you?"
Diana asked politely, "I'd like to take my brother and a friend to the nursing home today. May I use the black four-seater SUV?"
The assistant responded instantly. "Of course. Lord Knight has instructed that you have maximum usage rights over everything in Forbidden City Manor. I'll have the keys sent to you immediately."
Meanwhile, at Knight Group Headquarters.
During a meeting break, the assistant was about to enter to report on the car keys, but he stopped when he saw William staring at his phone, his brow frosted with tension. It was a call from the Knight family estate. The assistant wisely retreated.
William walked to the far end of the terrace and answered. On the other end, Adrian Knight's voice boomed like thunder. "I heard you took it upon yourself to get married?"
"Yes," William replied, his voice cold and flat.
"Do you even realize I'm your father? Something this significant, and I have to hear it from your grandmother!" Adrian was so livid he smashed a glass.
William let out a cold sneer. "Since you are my father, perhaps you should reflect on why your son has no desire to even notify you of his wedding."
Adrian was silenced for a moment. He knew he owed his son much, but years of being a powerful patriarch made it impossible for him to bow. He sneered, "I bet you found some low-class girl from the streets and felt guilty about it. I heard she's from a common family—how could someone of that caliber be fit to enter the Knight family? I'm embarrassed for you!"
William's eyes darkened instantly, his voice carrying a bone-chilling pressure. "My wife is worthy of every praise in existence. She is beautiful, sincere, independent, and unlike some people, she would never be so unrefined as to attack others. In terms of character, you aren't even on her level."
"William Knight! You've been married for a few days and you're already turning against me for an outsider?"
"In both law and ethics, a spouse is the first-tier relative. The choice of free will takes precedence over the habit of blood—that is my bottom line." William's words were like blades, leaving no room for argument. "This is the first and last time. I will not allow anyone to criticize my wife, including you. She owes the Knight family nothing and has no reason to endure your arrogance."
"Drop the prejudice, Adrian. The decision-making power of the Knight Group is in my hands, as is the distribution of resources. If you can't control your mouth, I will make the numbers in your bank account drop to zero."
On the other end of the line, Adrian went deathly silent. Even through the phone, the terrifying pressure was palpable. He didn't dare utter another word.