If any other man had asked that, Diana Bell would have written him off as a total creep.
But she knew William Knight wasn't like that.
He was genuinely, clinically discussing the results of his "pre-class preparation."
Those deep, dark eyes of his—usually as cold as a mountain spring—were now brimming with a thirst for knowledge. It was as if the heart-stopping kiss from the night before was nothing more than a rigorous biological experiment to him.
Diana had no doubt that if she said she didn't like it, this obsessive, hyper-rational man would immediately flip through his "teaching materials" and try a different method—perhaps a more aggressive tongue-lashing or a punishingly deep clinch—until she provided a satisfactory answer.
So, had she really become the first unsolvable math problem of his life?
There was no way in hell she was answering that directly.
Instead, Diana chose to play dead. She clamped her eyes shut and forced her breathing into a slow, rhythmic pattern, even letting out a faint, fake snore.
William turned his head in surprise, a flicker of self-deprecation crossing his dark gaze. He'd only said three sentences, and the girl had already gone into hibernation?
He leaned his lean, powerful frame toward her, his handsome face almost brushing hers. His hot breath drifted across the sensitive shell of her ear.
Darkness was the perfect cover; he couldn't see that the tips of her ears were already burning a bright crimson.
After a long silence, William used the pale moonlight to confirm her breathing was steady. He let out a low sigh. "Right. She really is asleep."
...
In the middle of the night, William woke from a light sleep feeling an odd, rising heat.
He opened his eyes to find that the girl who had been clinging to the very edge of the bed earlier—trying to put a whole ocean between them—was now curled deep into his chest.
Awake, her features were striking and sharp, usually carrying a chilly "don't touch me" vibe. But in sleep, she looked like a kitten that had tucked away its claws. Her thick lashes rested against her cheeks like tiny fans, radiating an unconscious innocence.
It was as if the man before her was her only life raft.
In the height of summer, their bodies were pressed together without a single gap, causing their body heat to climb exponentially.
William had always been sensitive to the heat.
He stared down at her for a long time. His fingers, which had intended to push her away, twitched and curled. Ultimately, he followed his heart and pulled her a little tighter. Let it be hot, he thought.
...
The next morning, Diana's internal clock woke her right on time.
She was used to high-intensity morning workouts, so her mind sharpened almost instantly.
Except today, the tactile sensations were... weird.
She opened her eyes and realized she was draped over William in a profoundly embarrassing position—her face buried in the crook of his neck, her hands gripping his arm as if he were a precious treasure.
They had clearly drawn a "no-go zone" last night. How had she crossed the border and occupied the high ground by sunrise?
She'd never been a clingy sleeper before.
Then again, she'd spent her life sleeping in freezing solitude; she'd never had the chance to discover this hidden trait.
While William was still out cold, Diana held her breath and slowly peeled her fingers off his sleeve. Like a fox that had successfully raided a hen house, she scurried back to her side of the bed.
Thank God the man was a heavy sleeper and hadn't witnessed this disaster.
Diana bolted into the bathroom and changed into tight-fitting athletic gear.
It had rained during the night, and the air outside smelled of damp earth and greenery.
Mindful of the sleeping man, she skipped the noisy cardio and opted for stretching.
Yoga, Pilates, and then a hundred standard sit-ups.
Finally, she turned her back to the bed and began a finishing set of fifty squats.
Her long legs were braced wide. With every precise downward movement, her slender waist and toned curves created a breathtaking silhouette.
Squat, rise, power through.
The only sound in the room was her soft, rhythmic breathing.
As she finished the last rep and turned around, she locked eyes with William's clear, dark gaze.
He had woken up at some point and was propped up against the headboard, looking effortlessly cool, though he was suspiciously clutching a pillow over his lap.
Diana looked down at her exposed waist and bare thighs, and a wave of delayed awkwardness hit her.
They were married, sure, but they were still basically strangers.
She took a deep breath, feigning composure as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Morning, Mr. Knight."
"Morning," William replied. His voice was like sandpaper on silk—gritty, masculine, and startlingly hoarse.
Diana didn't notice anything amiss and pointed toward the bathroom. "I'm covered in sweat. I'm going to grab a shower."
William's eyes lingered on her flushed skin for a fraction of a second.
Post-workout, she looked like a red rose soaked in dew—vibrant and dangerously tempting.
He suddenly felt his throat go even drier.
"Are you getting up?" she asked casually.
William went silent for a moment, his voice stiff. "I need to wait a while."
Wait for what? To stand in line for the sink?
Thinking she was hogging the master bath, Diana offered generously, "Mr. Knight, I'll just use the guest shower in the living room. You can have this one; no need to wait."
Before he could react, she grabbed her clothes and ducked out, clicking the door shut.
William stared at the closed door and slowly moved the pillow from his lap.
Looking down, he rubbed his temples and chuckled darkly.
First thing in the morning... Talk about self-inflicted torture. ...
By the time Diana finished getting ready and changed into casual clothes, William still hadn't emerged.
She headed to the kitchen, hoping food would take the edge off the morning's awkwardness.
Fried beef buns, bacon, toast, and warm milk.
When William finally walked out, the dining room was filled with the inviting aroma of a home-cooked meal.
He looked at the spread and arched an eyebrow. "You made all this?"
"It was no trouble," Diana said, handing him a glass of milk. "I didn't know what you liked, so I made a bit of everything."
William sat down, picked up a bun with effortless grace, and took a bite. "It's delicious. Thank you."
At that moment, Noah Bell—who usually slept like the dead—appeared, lured by the scent. He barely wiped his face before grabbing a bun and stuffing it into his mouth.
Before he could even swallow, Diana's phone buzzed.
Seeing the caller ID, her brow furrowed. She took the phone and walked out onto the balcony.
Noah, his mouth full of meat, shouted, "Sis! What kind of state secret is so big you can't talk in front of us?"
Diana ignored him and slid the balcony door shut.
On the other end, her landlady, Ms. Zhang, sounded hesitant. "Miss Bell... about this month's rent... can you settle it now?"
Diana lowered her voice, her palms sweating. "Ms. Zhang, I'm so sorry. My grandmother's medical bills went over budget this month. I'm a bit short. Can you give me a few days? I start a new job today; I'll transfer it as soon as I get an advance."
The landlady sighed. "I'm in a spot too, dear. My son's condition is acting up again, and we need his meds..."
Hanging up, Diana felt her heart sink.
She had wanted to shop around for a company with a real future, but now, the one small firm that was willing to pay an advance—while working her to the bone—was her only lifeline.
As she turned back, she bumped into William, who had come into the room to grab a tie.
William noticed her expression. He toyed with the silk tie in his hands and said softly, "Are you having trouble? You can tell me."
Diana forced a smile, looking away. "No, it's just a personal matter."
The pride in her bones wouldn't let her ask a "stranger" of a husband for money.
Breakfast was a bit somber after that.
William received a meeting notification and left early. Diana immediately hopped on her laptop to contact the low-balling company to finalize her start date.
Even Noah's constant joking couldn't lift her mood.
Just as she grabbed her bag to head out to a job she already hated, the doorbell rang.
Standing there was the male assistant who had brought the wine the day before.
"Miss Bell, Lord Knight has instructed me to assist with your move."
Noah's eyes lit up. "Move where? Does it have AC? I'm practically a salted fish in this heat."
The assistant smiled politely. "The Forbidden Palace District. A twelve-hundred-square-meter estate. It has central air and a full soundproofing system. Lord Knight specifically requested a place that was quiet and well-insulated."
Noah's jaw hit the floor. "Twelve hundred square meters? I could ride a motorcycle in the living room!"
Simultaneously, Diana's phone chimed with a notification.
Account Balance: $200,000.00. The assistant bowed slightly. "This is your allowance for the first month. Lord Knight says he feels he has neglected the household due to his meetings these past few days. He offers his sincerest apologies."
Noah was already over the moon, buttering up the assistant to ask about his own pocket money.
Diana's phone rang again. It was the HR person from the low-balling company, sounding incredibly condescending. "Miss Bell, the contract is ready. Bring your things over, sign it, and we'll give you the cash."
Diana looked at the string of zeros on her screen, then at the assistant's polite smile in the sunlight. The suffocating weight she'd been carrying all morning vanished instantly.
She spoke into the phone, her voice clear and calm. "Actually, I won't be signing that contract. Because as it turns out... I'm really not short on cash."