Diana didn't sleep well that night. Her dreams were fragmented, mostly flickering scenes from her childhood.
When she finally woke, the day was bright. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a shimmering glow on the subtle metallic patterns of the wallpaper—clear and serene.
Lying in a bed that belonged to her, Diana surveyed her room.
She had lived with the Knight family for ten years. Every cubic inch of air here felt tamed and familiar. She remembered which year the double-petaled hydrangeas in the garden bloomed most vibrantly, and she knew exactly where a faint, thin scratch marked the handrail of the second-floor study.
This wasn't just a shelter from the rain; it was the vessel of her "growth." But the goodbye on that rainy night when she was eighteen had left an unfixable crack in that vessel. Every day since her return felt less like revisiting an old dream and more like a long, drawn-out amputation.
It was time to move out.
When Aurora heard the news, she didn't look surprised. Instead, she arched an eyebrow and pushed a freshly mixed glass of juice toward her. "Made up your mind? The guest room at my place is always yours. Rent is free, provided you keep me entertained."
Diana stared down, stirring the ice in her glass. "I have a place," she said softly. "No. 9 Pine Street."
Aurora nearly spat out her drink, her eyes widening. "Where? No. 9 Pine Street? You can't just buy a spot there with money. That's the 'heart' of the city. Are you planning to become a local landmark?"
Diana gave a helpless smile. "My grandfather left it to me. It's been sitting empty; I figured it's time to give it some life."
"Tsk, I always forget that under that 'monk-like' exterior of yours hides the soul of a top-tier heiress," Aurora teased. "So, sinking twenty million into that project didn't even leave a scratch on you?"
"That was all my personal savings," Diana shot her a look. "My heart is bleeding."
Aurora laughed heartily before turning serious. "What about William? How do you plan to tell him?"
Diana's fingers tightened, her tips leaving faint white marks on the cold glass. "I'm looking for the right moment. He's been too busy lately."
"With things like this, the 'right moment' never exists," Aurora sighed. "You're afraid he'll think you're rushing to draw a line in the sand, aren't you? After all, what happened five years ago is still the thorn between you two."
Before she could finish, Diana's phone rang. It was William. His voice was magnetic yet cool: "Keep your evening free. I'm taking you to meet an elder."
At dusk, Diana changed into a charcoal-blue silk shirt dress paired with a sharp, sand-colored oversized blazer. Compared to her usual casual style, she looked more composed and restrained.
At exactly seven o'clock, the familiar black sedan appeared downstairs.
William was on his Bluetooth headset discussing legal details with a firm. As he caught sight of her approaching, the tension in his jaw seemed to relax for a fleeting second.
Diana slipped into the car, the scent of his light fir-wood cologne enveloping her. "You're five minutes late, William," she murmured.
William turned his head, said a cold "we'll talk later" to the person on the phone, and hung up. He looked at her, his gaze deep. "And what compensation do you plan to demand for those five minutes?"
In the past, she would have used any excuse to badger him for a limited-edition Lego set or a spontaneous trip to a gallery. Back then, her tantrums were just a way to confirm she was favored.
But today, Diana didn't ask for a gift.
"William, I want to move to Pine Street."
The air in the car seemed to freeze instantly. The faint smile on William's face withered like it had been hit by a frost. He didn't speak; he simply watched her, his expression so complex she didn't dare meet his eyes.
Just then, his phone vibrated again. He took the call, and the discussion regarding a cross-border merger lasted until the car pulled up to the private restaurant.
Tonight, William had organized a dinner to meet Dean Slade from the Aerospace Industry Research Institute.
Throughout the meal, Diana was impeccable. Every gesture reflected the grace and humility of a blue-blooded upbringing. In this city, the Knight family existed in the clouds. Even though the Bell family was prominent in business, everyone here looked to the head of the Knight family for their cues.
Dean Slade was clearly an old acquaintance of William's. He looked at Diana and remarked, "Mr. Bell mentioned his daughter was abroad studying drone propulsion, but I thought it was just a passing whim. Seeing your poise today, Miss Bell, I see I was narrow-minded."
He paused, glancing tentatively at William before turning back to Diana. "Our institute is currently leading a national key laboratory for civilian drones. We're short on talent with practical experience and an international vision like yours. If you're willing to join us, you'd start as a Senior Researcher. The benefits and resources are top-tier."
It was a massive olive branch—one that most returning scholars would fight for.
Diana set down her teacup, her voice gentle but firm. "I deeply admire the research atmosphere at the Institute, Dean Slade. But I've only just returned, and I'm more interested in hitting the ground running in the private market. I want to get my hands dirty. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to do justice to such a prestigious role yet."
The Dean was stunned, clearly not expecting a rejection. He instinctively looked at William, only to find him leisurely peeling a shrimp, his expression unreadable.
"Young people have their own ideas," William spoke up at the right moment, tapping the table lightly. He shifted the topic to the Dean's son. "I heard your son's new energy system development has reached a critical stage? President Cole from Hantai Bank has been looking at that sector lately. Have him send over the pitch deck, and I'll take a look at it myself."
The Dean beamed instantly. Over more rounds of drinks, the awkwardness dissolved into nothing.
On the drive back, silence was the only soundtrack.
Neon lights blurred outside the window. Diana started to speak several times but bit her lip when she saw William's cold profile.
The car slowed to a halt on the small road outside the Knight family estate.
William stepped out and leaned against the car door, lighting a cigarette. The pale blue smoke rose under the dim streetlight, making him look strangely solitary.
Diana followed him out, walking up to him and tugging gently at his sleeve. "William, are you really angry?"
William exhaled a cloud of smoke and looked down at her, a self-deprecating smile touching his lips. "Moving out, rejecting the job. Diana, are you planning to excise me from your future entirely?"
"That's not it," Diana defended herself urgently. "I just want to see how far I can go in this industry without the title of 'Young Mistress of the Knight family.' At the Institute, they would only treat me like royalty because of your influence. I don't want to be a mascot."
"Privilege isn't a bad thing. It can save you ten years of detours."
"But that's your privilege, not mine," Diana lowered her lashes, watching their shadows on the ground. She whispered, "What if one day, I don't have you backing me up anymore?"