Chapter 498

Chapter 498

"What?"

"They're all congratulating me." She nestled into his embrace, finding a more comfortable position as if drawing strength from him, and continued, "One of the guys even said I'm the beauty of the Foreign Languages Department, and my marriage is a big deal."

Her tone was calm, like she was just talking about her day.

But Stanley could feel that Diana, in his arms, was more relaxed than he'd ever seen her, stretched out and at ease.

He didn't interrupt, just gently rubbed his chin against the soft top of her head.

"They also asked if you were super handsome."

"And what did you say?" Stanley finally spoke, his deep voice carrying a hint of unmistakable amusement.

Diana suddenly lifted her head from his embrace, meeting his deep, night-sky-like eyes, and deliberately put on a serious face.

"I said, just average, not as handsome as the guys in our class."

Stanley's eyebrows raised dangerously, his well-defined hand precisely grasping her chin, his warm fingertips with slight calluses gently caressing her smooth skin.

"Really? Guess I need to work on my charm."

He slowly lowered his head, his hot breath mingling with hers, igniting an invisible fire between them, making Diana's heart skip a beat.

She laughed and turned her head, skillfully dodging the kiss that was about to land.

"They also asked me to bring you to sit in on a class next time."

"And then?"

"Then I told them I'm taking a marriage leave." Diana's eyes sparkled, as if filled with the brilliance of the entire galaxy. "Stanley, let's go on a honeymoon."

It was the first time she had so proactively and firmly planned a future that belonged solely to the two of them.

"Okay." Stanley's response was without hesitation, as if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time. "Where do you want to go?"

Diana already had the answer in her heart.

"Valkora."

She wanted to see the Northern Lights.

She wanted to visit that distant, pure land covered in ice and stars, to witness the most magnificent and dazzling light show in the world.

Just like her life at this moment.

After enduring a long, almost devouring darkness, she had finally reached her own, piercingly bright dawn.

A week later.

The flight to Frostholm, the capital of Valkora, pierced through the clouds, soaring high, leaving behind the city lights as a distant blur.

Diana leaned against the cold window, quietly gazing at the shrinking lights below, feeling an unprecedented calm.

A warm, dry hand covered hers, firmly holding her hand.

She turned her head, and Stanley was looking at her, the dim and ambiguous light in the cabin softening the contours of his face.

He said nothing, just held her hand tighter, as if transferring all his warmth and strength to her.

Diana squeezed his hand back, gently resting her head on his shoulder, and slowly closed her eyes.

All the past, whether pain or gloom, was left behind in the sky above that continent as the plane continued to ascend.

Ahead of her was a new, unknown world.

A world with light, love, and him.

Frostholm was just the beginning of their adventure.

They didn't stick around the bustling city but caught another flight, heading north, finally landing at Frostrun Airport deep in the Norvalla region.

As the cabin door opened, a rush of glacier-scented air hit them like a blade.

The air was pure and dry, filling their lungs and seemingly purifying the last trace of impurity from their souls.

Diana instinctively shrank her neck, burying half her face deep into the soft, thick cashmere scarf, leaving only her eyes, sparkling with excitement.

They were now in the heart of the Arctic Circle.

Everywhere she looked, there was nothing but pure, all-consuming white, as if it had swallowed all the colors of the world.

The entire world was enveloped in a grand and solemn silence, even the wind's howling frozen and absorbed by the endless snow.

Only the thick snow under their feet made a crisp and satisfying crunch with each step, the only sound in this silent world.

Stanley had arranged everything.

It was a standalone cabin with a huge glass dome, like something out of a fairy tale, standing proudly in the snow-covered pine forest, isolated from all worldly noise.

Opening the heavy wooden door, a wave of warmth mixed with the scent of pine instantly enveloped them.

The cabin was warm as spring, the fireplace's orange-red flames dancing joyfully, making a soft, soothing crackling sound.

Stanley took off his heavy, cold-soaked coat, naturally and smoothly taking Diana's suitcase, and began methodically organizing their clothes.

Every movement he made exuded a reassuring certainty, as if no matter where they were, as long as he was there, it was home.

Diana, like a child finally freed from all constraints, kicked off her boots, barefoot, letting the warm wooden floor soothe her feet.

She almost skipped to the large floor-to-ceiling window, pressing her hands against the cool glass, gazing at the silent kingdom ruled by night and snow outside.

"Stanley," she whispered, her voice full of suppressed wonder and novelty, "this feels like the end of the world."

Stanley had quietly walked up behind her, placing a steaming cup of hot milk into her cool hands.

He didn't stand too close, maintaining a respectful distance, looking out with her, his deep voice carrying a calming power.

"Yeah, here there's no past, no disturbances, just snow, and you."

Dinner was a local specialty delivered by the hotel.

The creamy salmon soup was rich and delicious, the roasted venison had a wild, smoky flavor, paired with freshly baked, dense rye bread, it was simple and pure.

They didn't choose the dining table but sat casually on the thick wool carpet in front of the fireplace.

There was no deliberate conversation, just occasional eye contact, followed by a smile, quietly sharing the food before them.

The warm firelight cast long shadows on them, those shadows overlapping and merging on the floor, inseparable.

As the night deepened, the cabin's outdoor hot spring pool was steaming with inviting white mist.