Chapter 2 Alex Regains Consciousness, Soul Transmigrates into a Cotton Doll

Diana's stunning face kept enlarging, filling his entire vision. Alex could clearly see her long, dense lashes, fluttering like a butterfly's delicate wings brushing against his cheek. Yet, more shocking than Diana's breathtaking beauty at such close range was the situation at hand. As Alex regained consciousness, he realized he was in Diana's room, his body trapped in darkness, unable to move. He could hear her conversation with Jackson perfectly. Though his vision was restricted, making it impossible to understand his surroundings, one thing was certain-he was dead. He had perished in the plane crash. As for why his consciousness had awakened and how he ended up here, Alex had no clue. All he knew was that he was trapped, unable to break free. Diana propped her chin up, her delicate fingers tapping the forehead of a cotton doll. Her tone was both a sigh and a taunt, "Alex, oh Alex, you held a position of power, yet you still fell into someone's trap." She chuckled softly, "The revered head of The Smith family conglomerate, reduced to such an ending. What a pity." The realistic sensation coursing through Alex gave him the illusion that she knew he was there. As her words fell, the soul within the cotton doll tensed, staring unblinkingly at Diana, trying to read her mind. The plane crash-it was indeed orchestrated by someone. But Diana had been in the villa all along, so how did she know? Before he could think further, a sudden weightlessness overtook him. His entire body sank into something soft. Alex froze for a moment before realizing-Diana was holding him, and his face was pressed against her chest! He resisted in his heart, but he couldn't fight back. He could only close his eyes and numb himself. "Alex is dead. You can't be dressed so cheerfully either. Let's change your outfit." Her gentle, sweet voice drifted above him, stirring something in his heart. But at the same time, Alex was perplexed-who was she talking to? The soft touch disappeared, but before he could recover from the dizziness, an even greater shock hit him. In the dressing mirror, staring back at him, was a cotton doll. It wore a red bib over its chest, two silk ribbons tied around its wrists fluttering with movement. A solid gold safety lock shimmered under the light, and the elaborate decorations on its waist made it look like a wealth-bringing child deity. Alex's brow twitched-this doll looked way too familiar. Wasn't this the cotton doll Diana had made herself?! Not long after they got married, Diana had approached him, saying she wanted to create a cotton doll in his likeness. Even if he was away, she could use the doll to ease her longing. At the time, Alex had teased her for being so naive, like a middle school girl who hadn't grown up. But he had agreed nonetheless. He had heard that Diana had bought many outfits and accessories to dress up the doll. But never in a million years did he expect this to be the style she chose! Was this how she saw him in her mind?! The face beneath the cotton doll cracked slightly, filled with disbelief. Diana pinched the doll's waist, and the clear, slightly painful sensation confirmed to Alex-he was trapped inside this cotton doll. At that moment, he wanted to die all over again. And to make matters worse, Diana's slender, fair fingers playfully tugged at the doll's clothing, slowly undressing it. The reflection in the mirror was utterly exposed. For the first time in his life, Alex felt true shame. He shut his eyes, refusing to face reality. Diana picked out a proper black suit from a box beside the vanity, dressed the doll in it, and then lay back on the bed, holding him close. The soft mattress gently bounced under them, and the warmth against his chest subtly shifted with her breathing. This level of closeness was unprecedented. Up close, her skin was flawless, as smooth as a freshly peeled egg, glowing like fine porcelain. Her full lips had a rosy tint, standing in stark contrast to her complexion. Her almond-shaped eyes, clear and lively, lifted slightly, resembling a tranquil morning lake. Long, dark lashes fanned out, and a fleeting glimmer passed through her gaze-like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, fleeting yet dazzling. Alex's breath hitched. Diana had a bad reputation in high society, but her face was simply beyond reproach-undeniably beautiful. "Are you really dead...?" A soft murmur pulled Alex back to reality. Tears shimmered in Diana's eyes, dampening her lashes. To him, Diana had always been the gentle, fragile "white flower" type. She never complained, always played along with his act, and looked at him with admiration in front of others. Though their marriage was cold and distant, as a contractual wife, Diana had been dutiful. Only now did Alex realize-his so-called wife actually had some feelings for him. At least she had a conscience. Alex sneered. He knew Diana wasn't grieving for him but dreading a return to a life of ostracization and mistreatment. Even so, there was a sliver of comfort in the thought. Too many people had coveted his position. That's why, when he married two years ago, Alex had planned everything in advance. Even in the event of an accident, his people would protect his assets, ensuring they wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. The key was having a legitimate heir. And this delicate "white flower" in front of him was the perfect choice. Diana, looking utterly exhausted, soon drifted into deep sleep. Suddenly- The bedside phone rang, vibrating incessantly. Diana jolted awake, her long lashes trembling with irritation. She turned over, grabbed her phone, and answered the call with barely concealed impatience. "What do you want?" It was a video call. On the screen, the person on the other end paled at the sight of Diana's exhausted face. "You... you look like you've seen a ghost!" The other woman sat in a traditionally styled room, a hairpin securing her hair in a loose bun, with wisps falling around her face. She wore a sheer smoky-green shawl draped over her shoulders and arms. Beneath it, a white camisole adorned with an elegant magnolia flower complemented a pale blue pleated skirt. The skirt looked like an ink painting, as if misted with the soft rains of Jiangnan, fading from light to dark in hazy layers-like a maiden stepping out of an ancient Chinese painting. Her hair was slightly disheveled, suggesting she had just woken up. Anna scrutinized Diana for a few seconds, clicking her tongue. "Alex is dead, and you're so heartbroken you look like this? But that eye makeup is on point-you fooled even me. Teach me how you did it!" Diana's face darkened. "It's not makeup." Anna paused, then examined her closely, her voice carrying a tinge of disbelief. "Pale complexion, blood deficiency, exhaustion... You, the pampered little golden canary, how did you end up like this?" Diana didn't answer, but her gaze held a cold, dangerous edge. "Why did you call me?" Surprised by the sudden pressure in Diana's tone, Anna hesitated before grabbing another phone and playing the song Good Days.