Chapter 496

Chapter 496

The room was a mix of emotions: shock, disbelief, intense jealousy, and even a hint of fear, carefully masked but rooted in class differences.

Diana felt it all, like tiny needles pricking her skin.

But she didn't flinch or show any discomfort.

The kiss Stanley had left on her cheek still lingered, its warmth becoming her strongest armor.

She calmly lifted her gaze, her cold eyes scanning the varied expressions on each face, and finally, she took a step forward.

The sound of her high heels striking the polished tiles was sharp and clear, carrying an undeniable rhythm.

Each step seemed to land on the hearts of those around her, suspended in mid-air.

In the corner, Cheryl and Glenn turned pale as paper, their lips moving but unable to produce any sound, like chickens with their throats clutched.

Their eyes darted around in terror, not daring to meet Diana's gaze.

The sharp, biting mockery they had once directed at her now felt like countless slaps to their own faces.

Mocking her as a discarded second wife?

Now, she was Diana, Mrs. Stanley Visconti.

In Imperial City, that title was synonymous with power and wealth.

Ignoring everyone's stares, Diana walked gracefully to her desk, her posture elegant, her back straight like a swan's neck.

She gently placed a crimson velvet gift bag on the desk.

The soft thud seemed to make the entire office's air tremble.

She didn't rush to distribute the sweet tokens of her victory. Instead, she sat down gracefully, started her computer, and began to handle the backlog of emails with calm composure.

The more nonchalant she appeared, the more suffocating the tense atmosphere around her became.

Finally, someone couldn't withstand the silent torture.

Bertha, who usually had a decent relationship with Diana, approached cautiously with a cup of water, a slightly ingratiating yet somewhat sincere smile on her face.

"Diana... no, Mrs. Visconti. Congrats, congrats!"

Bertha's voice shattered the fragile ice in the office.

"Your blog post yesterday caused quite a stir. We... we thought it was some kind of prank."

That "congrats" seemed to be a signal.

Immediately, the others swarmed around like sharks smelling blood, their voices filled with insincere enthusiasm.

"Yeah, Diana, that was so quick!"

"Mrs. Visconti, you'll be our big support now. Please look out for us old colleagues!"

"When's the wedding? Don't forget to send us invitations!"

These voices, whether sincere or sycophantic, Diana listened to with a faint smile.

She slowly stood up and finally opened the velvet bag.

A rich, almost luxurious scent of cocoa and milk exploded, aggressively filling every corner of the office.

"We just got the marriage certificate yesterday. The wedding is still being planned."

Her voice was calm but carried a natural authority.

She grabbed a handful of colorful imported chocolates and handed them to Bertha, then distributed several more handfuls to the enthusiastic "colleagues" around her.

"A little candy to share the joy."

After making the rounds, there was still some left in the bag.

Diana, holding the half-empty bag, walked with deliberate steps towards the darkest corner of the office.

She stopped in front of Cheryl and Glenn.

The two of them looked like cats whose tails had been stepped on, almost jumping out of their seats, their faces full of panic.

"Dr. Stewart, Dr. Young."

Diana's voice remained gentle, even with a hint of a smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes, which were as cold as a poisoned blade.

She didn't mention any of the unpleasantness from the previous day, simply extending the red bag towards them.

The gesture was so elegant it seemed like a sacred ritual.

"Candy."

The word was light as a feather.

Yet it landed heavily, crushing their dignity.

Cheryl's face instantly lost all color, her hands trembling uncontrollably as she fumbled in the bag, as if the sweet candies were burning hot irons.

"Con... congratulations."

Her voice was dry and hoarse, barely audible.

Glenn, even more stiff, forced a twisted smile that looked more painful than crying, also trembling as he took the candy.

"Best... best wishes for a long and happy life."

Diana didn't spare them another glance.

She simply nodded lightly, then turned and walked back to her desk with the stride of a victor.

She had won this silent battle without shedding a drop of blood.

The sword Stanley had given her was too sharp.

She didn't even need to draw it; just showing the beautiful scabbard was enough to make all the petty people tremble and flee.

After handling everything, Diana picked up the already filled-out application form and knocked on Harlan's office door.

"Come in."

Harlan's usual, robust voice came from inside.

Diana pushed the door open.

Harlan, buried in paperwork, looked up and, seeing it was Diana, jumped up from his large chair as if electrocuted.

His face was filled with an unprecedented, almost obsequious smile as he quickly walked around the desk.

"Diana! Please, have a seat! What an honor, what an honor!"

He even pulled out a chair for Diana himself and hurriedly went to make tea, his eagerness a stark contrast to his usual stern, businesslike demeanor.

"Congratulations! Congratulations, Diana!" He carefully placed a steaming cup of tea in front of her.

"This is such wonderful news! Mr. Visconti is young and accomplished, and you are the pillar of our school, talented and beautiful. You two are a match made in heaven!"

"Mr. Rogers, you're too kind." Diana didn't touch the tea, simply pushing the application form towards him.

"I'm here to apply for a marriage leave."

"Of course! Absolutely!"

Harlan didn't even look at the contents of the form, grabbing a gold Parker pen from his desk and signing "approved" with a flourish, then stamping it heavily.

"If the leave isn't enough, just let me know, and I'll approve more! Don't worry about work at all; I'll personally handle the handover to ensure everything is smooth when you return from your honeymoon!"